There is a type of connection that is seldom reflected upon in the modern age, and which comes from understanding the nature of another person as he exists before God.
Your article develops good insights C.S. Lewis raised in his seminal talk "The Weight of Glory." In case you're interested, I posted a reflection on the same yesterday: https://gracedcorner.substack.com/p/the-weight-of-glory
Yes, thank you for sharing. The most haunting part is the weight of your conclusion, "We mingle with potential saints or demons. There is no getting around it. The way we respond in charity to our neighbor will help make one outcome or the other real." It feels hard enough to contend with the fate of our own souls, but it's something that doesn't happen in a vacuum. All of our decisions and interactions ripple outward. I appreciate the opportunity to think aloud with you.
I appreciate your comment, Sarah. Years ago I belonged to a community online called "Experience Project," which provided readers the fun of replying to blogs conversationally. Would that Substack was geared to encouraging input from readers, how much more lively a space it would be!
Years ago before I became Catholic, I had a Catholic friend who was a co-worker. We had some things in common-reading, gardening, and music. After a time though my friend tried to discourage me from smoking. She was worried about my health. When I failed to quit after many pleadings from her, she ended our friendship because she believed that if didn't care about my health, I didn't care about my life and her faith could not allow her to associate with someone so stubborn and indifferent about life. I didn't understand this at the time but after becoming Catholic, I understood that her faith and my lack of faith were not only stumbling blocks to a deeper friendship, but her faith determined who she is, how she is to act, and how to really love while my lack of faith also determined a different path and a path not well pleasing to God.
Your article develops good insights C.S. Lewis raised in his seminal talk "The Weight of Glory." In case you're interested, I posted a reflection on the same yesterday: https://gracedcorner.substack.com/p/the-weight-of-glory
Yes, thank you for sharing. The most haunting part is the weight of your conclusion, "We mingle with potential saints or demons. There is no getting around it. The way we respond in charity to our neighbor will help make one outcome or the other real." It feels hard enough to contend with the fate of our own souls, but it's something that doesn't happen in a vacuum. All of our decisions and interactions ripple outward. I appreciate the opportunity to think aloud with you.
I appreciate your comment, Sarah. Years ago I belonged to a community online called "Experience Project," which provided readers the fun of replying to blogs conversationally. Would that Substack was geared to encouraging input from readers, how much more lively a space it would be!
Years ago before I became Catholic, I had a Catholic friend who was a co-worker. We had some things in common-reading, gardening, and music. After a time though my friend tried to discourage me from smoking. She was worried about my health. When I failed to quit after many pleadings from her, she ended our friendship because she believed that if didn't care about my health, I didn't care about my life and her faith could not allow her to associate with someone so stubborn and indifferent about life. I didn't understand this at the time but after becoming Catholic, I understood that her faith and my lack of faith were not only stumbling blocks to a deeper friendship, but her faith determined who she is, how she is to act, and how to really love while my lack of faith also determined a different path and a path not well pleasing to God.
It’s like the Bonnie Rait song- life is much more precious when there’s less of it to waste.
Forgot to mention I finally did quit smoking.
You always make me rethink the thing I take for granted. Thanks for your thoughts on all things. God be with you always.
Great and meaningful reading. You are a philosophical soul with a wise and unique reasoning process. Unique in a heavenly and rightful way.🙂🙏🏻
I can be, and must be, better at this.